- - Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
- Artist: Brian Larsen
- Album: Breaking
- Label: Protocol
- Playtime: 48:55 min
- Genre: Indie
- URL: http://www.myspace.com/twilightsmoon
- Rip date: 2009-07-01
- Street date: 2009-08-04
- Size: 73.76 MB
- Type: Normal
- Quality: 200 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- - Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
- On August 4, 2009, Brian Larsen will release first solo album, Breaking.
- Larsen has previously released 7 albums, 2 EPs and a number of singles under
- the band name of TwilightęÆ Moon. Currently 23 years old, the Baltimore,
- Maryland resident recorded and released his first album at the age of 11, and
- has even produced for the band All-American Rejects.
- Breaking is an album with distinct pluses and minuses. Larsen has a talent
- for subdued yet peppy Folk/Pop/Rock songs that are pleasant to listen to. His
- voice is strong and clear with a touch more vibrato than you generally hear
- in Pop music but it works for him. Larsen tends toward a monochromatic
- writing style (i.e. Hang On), relying on repetition and persistence to
- reinforce his ideas. Larsen sounds a bit like Paul Simon at times and uses
- that same understated, almost repressed vocal style that Simon has used at
- times throughout his career. Songs like Stay Or Break, Frozen and Hang On
- have strong pop sensibilities. Stand My Ground shows Larsen breaking out his
- serious songwriter aspect. Imagine a mildly aggressive Toad The West Sprocket
- here. There's the occasional bomb as well, such as Open Heart, but generally
- any deficits on Breaking revolve around charisma. Regardless of a person's
- ability to present live, some folks just don't come across as dynamic on
- recorded medium (similar to some people just don't photograph well). This may
- be the case with Brian Larsen, or it may be an issue to lay solidly at the
- feet of the producer (also Larsen). Either way, there is a flatness that
- comes across at times throughout Breaking that may put off some listeners.
- Brian Larsen has made a strong effort with Breaking. His voice is very
- enjoyable and his songwriting is generally quite strong. A few of the songs
- presented here are better than they come across on CD, but on the whole it's
- a good effort.
- - Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
- 01. Stay Or Break ( 3:59)
- 02. Gotta Get You ( 3:26)
- 03. Frozen ( 3:13)
- 04. Running Out Of Breath ( 3:25)
- 05. Breaking ( 4:23)
- 06. Hold Me Down ( 4:41)
- 07. Hang On ( 3:50)
- 08. Watching The World Go By ( 4:09)
- 09. Stand My Ground ( 3:23)
- 10. Open Heart ( 3:39)
- 11. Watching You Fall ( 3:32)
- 12. Will You Remember Me? ( 3:07)
- 13. In The Winter ( 4:08)
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
